Madrid: Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho hailed his tired players for their effort in a hard-fought 2-1 derby win over Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon.
Karim Benzema and Mesut Oezil gave the visitors a first-half lead, but Sergio Aguero pulled one back late in the game to set up a nervy finish to the encounter.
"It was a very important victory. Atletico Madrid played a great game and were excellent in attack. For us it was a great win," Mourinho is quoted as saying by Eurosport.
"Things were difficult for us. In the first half we controlled the game very well and in the second we have been able to contain Atleti. The second half was very difficult for us. We did not have the necessary intensity and we were tired, especially [Cristiano] Ronaldo and Karim Benzema."
Mourinho went on to explain his decision to draft in French midfielder Lassana Diarra in place of Angel Di Maria to make a three-man midfield.
"I opted for three midfielders because I knew the team was tired and to make the team more compact," he said. "I wanted to rest some players but I did want to risk our championship chances ending today. It was a risk but you have to take each day as it comes. Now we will have three days of rest."
The Portuguese coach also had kind words for referee Fernando Teixeira Vitienes and goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
"The referee had a great game as it is not difficult to officiate such a match," added the former Inter boss. "Perhaps Cristiano Ronaldo could have had a penalty but overall he had a great game. As for Iker Casillas, he was fantastic."
The fourth successive win in the derby ensures that the gap with table toppers Barcelona remains at five points with nine games remaining, including the second Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu next month.
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